Jorge Lorenzo..

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Rat_Fink_67

2,309 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Mad to think the guy who was winning races on the Ducati just last season is now bowing out. I've never been the world's biggest Lorenzo fan but there's never been any doubt about his talent on a bike. Seems a pretty sad end in some respects.

As said previously, he's soundly beaten every main rival he's come across over the years, even Stoner on the Repsol Honda - who most seem to look back on as some sort of unbeatably dominant pairing.

We're definitely on the cusp of a whole new era. With Rossi and Crutchlow due to retire next season, and Dovi undoubtedly getting towards the end of his career, it'll be Marquez who will be the established old guard fending off the next contenders.

Zarco

17,706 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Definitely a changing of the guard going on now yes

epom

11,400 posts

160 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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egor110 said:
You can buy the best medical care but there's no guarantee your going to mend 100%


Oh absolutely, I agree completely wasn’t having a dig at all.

poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Zarco said:
Zarco has done much more in MotoGP and Moto2 than either Nakagami or Bradl. KTM has been a disaster admittedly.
Youre in cuckoo land if you think Zarco has done "much more in moto gp and moto 2" than Bradl. It is not just about results. Bradl has been a stalwart at Honda for years developing the bikes that have lead them to Championship after Championship.
Zarco gets a huge payday and a chance to develop a bike for a factory, is st at it, moans like a little girl and walks away after half a season with nothing to go to except a plan to maybe get a test rider job! Laughable when you think he is now in the frame for a factory ride with the Moto GP champions!

Zarco came to Moto GP in 2017 and rode the bike that was 2nd and 3rd in the championship the previous season, probably the most consistent machine out there at the time. Yes he nearly got it on pole, (4th) but lets not forget James Toseland was only a few thou off pole at his first moto gp on the Tech 3, pipped my Jorge iirc and was 2nd on the grid.

It flattered to deceive, he binned it on lap 6, got a few top 5s, but has never shown the sort of consistency and speed and potentilal for a top factory ride IMHO, compare him to Quatrarraro, this season? Not in the same league, despite quite similar results in rookie season, well at times.

Sadly, I think he earned a chance, took it at KTM (remember Hoda wanted him then) and blew it. I think there are plenty of others that deserve a factory Honda more.

I'd love to see them sign Rossi! laugh

Edited by poo at Paul's on Thursday 14th November 19:17

Davie_GLA

6,521 posts

198 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Shame. I've been a Rossi fan through and through and haven't really fell in love with the sport for the last couple of years.

That said there was something clinical with Lorenzo and how he rode, like another has said if he has a bike he trusts and is in the zone he's pretty untouchable.

I would LOVE Rossi to see a 10th title before he throws in the towel. Unsure if that will be the case though.

Must get back into it, it's the only sport i like though and scoff at paying the premium for BT Sport just for that.

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Yep, announced retirement.
Sad story...

egor110

16,818 posts

202 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Rat_Fink_67 said:
Mad to think the guy who was winning races on the Ducati just last season is now bowing out. I've never been the world's biggest Lorenzo fan but there's never been any doubt about his talent on a bike. Seems a pretty sad end in some respects.

As said previously, he's soundly beaten every main rival he's come across over the years, even Stoner on the Repsol Honda - who most seem to look back on as some sort of unbeatably dominant pairing.

We're definitely on the cusp of a whole new era. With Rossi and Crutchlow due to retire next season, and Dovi undoubtedly getting towards the end of his career, it'll be Marquez who will be the established old guard fending off the next contenders.
I wonder if ducati think they've fked up ?

When he didn't feel wanted and said he was leaving , after that they finally made the tank change he wanted then he started winning .

At that point if they'd gone back to him and said you were right and we were wrong , if he'd still be on that bike and this season would of played out different .

hiccy18

2,625 posts

66 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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poo at Paul's said:
Youre in cuckoo land if you think Zarco has done "much more in moto gp and moto 2" than Bradl. It is not just about results. Bradl has been a stalwart at Honda for years developing the bikes that have lead them to Championship after Championship.
Zarco gets a huge payday and a chance to develop a bike for a factory, is st at it, moans like a little girl and walks away after half a season with nothing to go to except a plan to maybe get a test rider job! Laughable when you think he is now in the frame for a factory ride with the Moto GP champions!

Zarco came to Moto GP in 2017 and rode the bike that was 2nd and 3rd in the championship the previous season, probably the most consistent machine out there at the time. Yes he nearly got it on pole, (4th) but lets not forget James Toseland was only a few thou off pole at his first moto gp on the Tech 3, pipped my Jorge iirc and was 2nd on the grid.

It flattered to deceive, he binned it on lap 6, got a few top 5s, but has never shown the sort of consistency and speed and potentilal for a top factory ride IMHO, compare him to Quatrarraro, this season? Not in the same league, despite quite similar results in rookie season, well at times.

Sadly, I think he earned a chance, took it at KTM (remember Hoda wanted him then) and blew it. I think there are plenty of others that deserve a factory Honda more.

I'd love to see them sign Rossi! laugh

Edited by poo at Paul's on Thursday 14th November 19:17
Yeah alright, you don't like Zarco, understood. I think you're far off with your assessment, let's see what HRC and Alberto Puig think eh?

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Lorenzo said he decided to retire already after Assen... eek

hiccy18

2,625 posts

66 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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What a shame, sad day for the sport! I do think Ducati made a mistake letting him go, bad for the team, Lorenzo and the sport, but it seems there's no point playing "what if" and I don't believe we'll see him back.

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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epom said:
Disappointing but hardly a surprise. If someone with his resources couldn’t recover from that injury then it must have been more serious that Initially thought.
I think it is mostly mental.

marky911

4,417 posts

218 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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He’s annoyed me from time to time meddling in other riders politics but at the same time him and Rossi at Yamaha was a great time for Moto Gp.

I do actually feel for him a bit. Crap end for a talented rider.

Mind you when his head isn’t in it he just wobbles around.

I wish him all the best though and I’m very grateful for the awesome racing he’s provided.

I’d rather see Zarco on the bike than Cal Crashlots. See what he can do.

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Problem is that anyone going to the Repsol Honda team is climbing onto a bike built and developed for one rider.
Are Honda going to give a #2 rider the development they ask for in order to tailor the bike to their style and preferences?

So unless Honda agrees to such tertiary development its likely to be a poison chalice for anyone taking the seat.

Keoparakolo

987 posts

53 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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FourWheelDrift said:
Cal has been hinting at retirement, 1 golden handshake year on the Repsol bike alongside Marquez (Cal is HRC contracted) they may be Red Bull sponsored and Cal is personally sponsored by Monster but it will be his last season and he'll be rewarded enough either way. Zarco on the LCR bike alongside Nakagami, then in 2021 Mini-Marquez jumps onto the Repsol bike alongside his brother.
The energy drink contract position is a showstopper. Personal Sponsorship tends to run for a good few years post retirement and Monster would have very deep pockets if CC tried to break the contract. Plus CC would be giving up a lot of future income and personal appearance stuff.

If CC is retiring then he’s got just as good a package at LCR as he’d have at Repsol, arguably better as he’s top rider there.

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
Problem is that anyone going to the Repsol Honda team is climbing onto a bike built and developed for one rider.
Are Honda going to give a #2 rider the development they ask for in order to tailor the bike to their style and preferences?

So unless Honda agrees to such tertiary development its likely to be a poison chalice for anyone taking the seat.
Agree. JL made a HUGE mistake switching to Honda with a teammate MM93 at his waaay-above-everyone-else peak and the bike developed year in year out (for years) 101% for one rider.
It was too much competition and too little support. Should have stayed at Ducati, or gone to some other manufacturer.

He made huge mistake going to Honda, if he actually planned to race competitively, that is.

I guess money talked. Did he really go for the money?
Then maybe he was not mentally prepared to race competitively already when he switched, and that loss of mental sharpness contributed to the crashes he had.

I wonder if Honda will pay him the 2020 money even though he does not ride?

Zarco

17,706 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Zarco said:
Zarco has done much more in MotoGP and Moto2 than either Nakagami or Bradl. KTM has been a disaster admittedly.
Youre in cuckoo land if you think Zarco has done "much more in moto gp and moto 2" than Bradl. It is not just about results. Bradl has been a stalwart at Honda for years developing the bikes that have lead them to Championship after Championship.
Zarco gets a huge payday and a chance to develop a bike for a factory, is st at it, moans like a little girl and walks away after half a season with nothing to go to except a plan to maybe get a test rider job! Laughable when you think he is now in the frame for a factory ride with the Moto GP champions!

Zarco came to Moto GP in 2017 and rode the bike that was 2nd and 3rd in the championship the previous season, probably the most consistent machine out there at the time. Yes he nearly got it on pole, (4th) but lets not forget James Toseland was only a few thou off pole at his first moto gp on the Tech 3, pipped my Jorge iirc and was 2nd on the grid.

It flattered to deceive, he binned it on lap 6, got a few top 5s, but has never shown the sort of consistency and speed and potentilal for a top factory ride IMHO, compare him to Quatrarraro, this season? Not in the same league, despite quite similar results in rookie season, well at times.

Sadly, I think he earned a chance, took it at KTM (remember Hoda wanted him then) and blew it. I think there are plenty of others that deserve a factory Honda more.

I'd love to see them sign Rossi! laugh

Edited by poo at Paul's on Thursday 14th November 19:17
Bradl the well known test rider? laugh


Zarco

17,706 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
Problem is that anyone going to the Repsol Honda team is climbing onto a bike built and developed for one rider.
Are Honda going to give a #2 rider the development they ask for in order to tailor the bike to their style and preferences?

So unless Honda agrees to such tertiary development its likely to be a poison chalice for anyone taking the seat.
yes

I wonder if Honda realise they are on thin ice if Marquez leaves or is injured. Without him they'd be nowhere in the championship.

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Zarco said:
yes

I wonder if Honda realise they are on thin ice if Marquez leaves or is injured. Without him they'd be nowhere in the championship.
Problem is that Honda might be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Keep focusing the bike around MM93 at the the expense of other riders ability to manage the bike and be (relatively) competitive or dual back the MM93 focus on creating a more balanced bike and upset MM who would demand #1 status and full development priorities into possibly leaving.
No easy answer.

Zarco

17,706 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
I think they need one mad/impossible to ride bike for MM, and a Yamaha/Suzuki for everyone else.

Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

124 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Just read comments from Agostini and Reggiani, they were not particularly positive on JL, saying he was great rider when things were going his way, otherwise he would break down, he was too attached to money, too proud and should have kept his mouth shut at times, also that he did not grow up enough mentally...
Graziano Rossi said he was surprised by the retirement, but would not be surprised if next season JL suddenly came back to racing.